Dan's Day Trips

Published July 26th, 2007

Juniper Creek in the Ocala National Forest is one of the most beautiful canoeing trips I've ever been on. It's also the most challenging. From personal experience, I can definitely say, don't bring anything valuable down the creek that you don't want to get wet.

This day trip started like any other. It was a beautiful day, perfect for canoeing down Juniper Creek. The water at first is crystal clear, but very narrow. In fact, sometimes it seemed like we were playing bumper boats with the bank and all the trees in our path.

It's a seven-mile trip of constant curving water from the Juniper Springs State Recreation Area to the take-out point at State Road 19. The trip takes between four and five hours and is definitely not for beginners.

Bringing your own kayak wouldn't be a bad idea. One thing you can't bring is disposable containers so this wilderness area remains a perfect spot to view nature.

The last half widens slightly, but before we could get there, an accident doomed the video for the rest of the trip. Did i mention, that this isn't for beginners?

I can promise the rest of the run was a lot less eventful. But i guess you will have to take my word for it. A special thanks to Carrie Christman and the Forest Service for taking me down Juniper Creek.

If you want to try see the creek for yourself, the trip began from the Juniper Springs Recreation Area. It's about 20 miles east of Ocala on State Road 40.

It costs $4 a person to get into the rec area and about $32 to rent a canoe. That price includes a shuttle service from the Juniper Wayside Park back to your car. If you bring your canoe or kayak, the shuttle service alone is $6.